Connor McDavid calls it “a massive game,” which may be a bit of hyperbole because it’s not exactly Game 7 of a playoff series, but he can read the NHL standings.

If the Edmonton Oilers, seven points south of a wildcard playoff spot, beat the Calgary Flames on Saturday, they at least stay close to Anaheim, Colorado, Minnesota, Vancouver and Chicago just ahead of them in the standings. And they can stay in sight of Dallas and Calgary, who hold the wildcard spots right now.

If they lose, it may be time to think towards next year.

When a Calgary reporter asked McDavid if he knew why the club had been so inconsistent this season, he laughingly said “next question.”

“Believe me, if we knew we would fix it,” he told the reporter following the optional morning skate Saturday.

The Oilers can at least hang their hat on the fact they’ve beaten Calgary six straight times, including the 3-0 opening night victory when only Flames goalie Mike Smith kept the score respectable for the visitors.

Edmonton needs to make it seven straight against Calgary, in the worst way.

The Oilers could make two lineup changes from the Toronto 6-4 loss on Thursday.

Defenceman Ryan Stanton could replace either Eric Gryba or Yohann Auvitu on the third pairing after his recall Friday while winger Mike Cammalleri, a healthy scratch against the Leafs, will probably be back in against his former club. Cammalleri may replace Anton Slepyshev, who can’t gain any traction with the coaching staff. He has one goal and two points in 13 games and reportedly is being shopped.

Winger Nathan Walker, claimed on waivers from Washington on Friday because the Oilers have to upgrade their team speed, was travelling Saturday and didn’t skate with the team.

So he’s certainly not playing.

Winger Iiro Pakarinen, who was placed on waivers Friday so they could claim Walker, had no bites around the league so he remains Oiler property and will report to their American Hockey League farm team to play on his one-way, $725,000 contract.

Interestingly, former Oiler defenceman Brandon Davidson, who was traded to Montreal at the deadline last February for David Desharnais, is on waivers. Would the Oilers take him back? Maybe. But Arizona, Buffalo and Florida get a shot at him first, based on the NHL standings.

The Sabres are reeling and could add Davidson.

The Oilers aren’t at the 50-player max on contracts so they could take on Davidson. Right now, they have seven healthy D — Darnell Nurse, Kris Russell, Oscar Klefbom, Matt Benning, Gryba, Auvitu, and Stanton. Adam Larsson is on injured reserve along with Andrej Sekera.

If they added Davidson, the Oilers would then have to investigate a trade or put somebody on waivers.